Hello all.I am an instrument rated private pilot, and recently switched from Fly!2 because I needed a more up-to-date database of NAVAIDS so I could fly real approaches for practice. The transition to MSFX is taking me longer than I had hoped ... I would appreciate any posts to this thread with some solid "tips" for a new MSFX pilot who is using the tool for real-world training and proficiency. True, I'd like to fly through stunning scenery, but most of my use is to throw in some bad weather and fly approaches to minimums.Thanks very much.- David----David KohlMS Flight Sim X[/b]iMac runing WinXP Home on Boot Camp[/b]CH Pro Pedals and Yoke USB.

Not sure what you're asking David. Altho I don't fly IRL any longer due to medical reasons, I keep my instrument proficiency up just fine with FSX.You need a good real weather add-on - I would recommend ASX by HiFiSimulations. In adition to real time weather you can set it for various conditions and shoot all the ILS approaches you want in any weather.Other than that, use your realworld plates with the FSX GPS and you're good to go.VicQ6600 G0 CPU 2.4 o/c 3.65Evga 680i A1 with P31 BIOS 2G XP2-8500 DDR2 1066FSB Mushkin 996535 RAM 5-5-4-12-2T320G 7200 HD partitioned for XP/Vista/Programs 2 - 74G Raptors in RAID0 500G 7200 HD for backup SATA DVD burner Evga 8800GTS 640 PCIx 169.13 betaKandalf LCS case w/ built in liquid cooling 850W Thermaltake power supplyVisit the Virtual Pilot's Centerwww.flightadventures.comhttp://www.hifisim.com/banners/hifi-supporter-sigbanner.jpg

Hi David-I use the sim much the same.I'd first get an add on aircraft with extremely smooth gauges-a lot of the aircraft-both default and add in do not have enough smoothness to help with this. (e.g. the Real Air Marchetti is about the best for me single engine-the Eaglesoft twin commanche is the best for twins right now). Of course if you can get a make and model like you fly in real life all the better.You also will want to balance scenery sliders to maximize smoothness-would suggest water/autogen/shadows/ and to a lesser extent ai traffic as places to get this (by turning down/off).I'd leave the clouds up and consider add ins like active sky/fex for more realisim here.Lastly, the controls are going to be helpful/important-but you probably already some.Currently I use a 2d cockpit made from photos of my real aircraft and using reality xp gauges which are extremely smooth. You could probably do the same with a few hours work.http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...id=271042&page=Off the top of my head-I hope that helps. http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/1b5baf...b9f427f694g.jpgMy blog:http://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/

If you want a definitive source, get a copy of the book in my recent review. I think it was written for folks like you:http://www.avsim.com/pages/0208/Wiley/Book.htmJeff ShylukAssistant Managing EditorSenior Staff ReviewerAVSIM

FSX has a built in 'real world' weather option although you can purchase addons, it works well. If you want very realistic looking clouds, get Flight Environment X.I also use FSX for practice and these are the programs I use that make FSX as real as possible, if your system will handle it:FEX- Clouds/WaterGEX- ground texturesUTX- lots of options for groundXGraphics- runway texture plus lots of other optionsFSGenesis- MeshScenery Tech- Landclasswww.fs-gs.com - system 'tweaked' for FSAnd various addon planes, depending on my mood :-)Hope this helps

I also have found every control that is close to reality helps-hence my setup now:I know for a fact it helps greatly with proficiency. Due to broken engines ( new factory remans-one that went bad) and weather- I had a 6 month lull in my 19 year flying career-a first... After this down time-when I went out-there was no deterioration-I know largely due to this sim and my setup. Largely cheaper than the real thing but the keeping up of skills is invaluable. I was frankly surprised after such a lull-but pleasantly!http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/1b5baf...b9f427f694g.jpgMy blog:http://geofageofa.spaces.live.com/http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/187396.jpg